It's hard to think that some of the greatest reality shows of all time are celebrating milestone seasons. For many reality television fans, it feels as if it's the summer of 2000 and CBS was testing two new reality programs. Little did we know, they would help define the future of the entire genre. Some of the most influential intellectual products were created. Many of which served as the blueprint for the shows we watch today.

During the aughts, every network tried their hand at reality television. Not all were successful. Whether it was docufollow or competition, the reality television world became what it is today thanks to many of these pioneers. Some of these shows gave us infamous catchphrases we still use today. Some launched the careers of now-household names. And some provided the strategy that would be utilized in every reality competition series in history.

Once upon a time, MTV developed a hidden camera comedy series that helped establish one of the most used verbs of the 2000s. was MTV's modern take on through the lens of celebrity. Co-created by , best known for his time on , Punk'd watched as the actor set up hidden cameras and caught some of Hollywood's biggest names in compromising situations. All for a giggle and a laugh. Whether it be believing his home was being raided by the government or thinking his custom-made limited-edition Porsche was being stolen, Punk'd was one of the first true must-see celebrity reality series.

In terms of celebrity, Punk'd helped establish the who's-who of millennial fame. The series did have some famous faces serve as Kutcher's accomplices, including , and the relatively unknown . Though the original series ran its course over time, Punk'd was revived on MTV in 2010 with a slew of celebrity guest hosts and then again on BET, led by and . In 2020, Quibi tried their hand at a reboot with at the helm, but upon the fall of the streamer, it moved to Roku before its ultimate cancellation.

Even though HGTV had a stronghold on the home, real estate, and renovation programming, it was one stray TLC series that set the tone for how fun home renovation can truly be. watched as two sets of neighbors swapped homes and redecorated one another's rooms. Hosted by , each team would be under the guidance and tutelage of an expert designer and a shared carpenter. With only two days and a $1,000 budget,

The joy of the series was that it didn't always celebrate perfection and exceptional design, it allowed some designers to truly experiment and create some of the world's most outlandish designs to ever grace our screens. If was in charge of your room, you would spend two days in straight terror with anxiety. The series launched two spin-offs, and , as well as helping launch the career of , the eventual host of. The series did get a mini-revival in 2018, but fans are still eager for more!

Even though the legacy of has spanned decades, did you know that the original series only ran for 3 seasons on MTV? Once you get past the fact that we've spent years watching reruns of the same half-hour episodes, you'll realize that Jackass defined the aughts through the pain of laughing. The schadenfreude series followed .

Led by , the series featured other household names, including and . While the series only lasted a short time, it allowed the franchise to launch a handful of movies and televised specials. The legacy of the series continues on to today. Co-creator hasn't ruled out more in film form. Jackass wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but it surely was informative of the aughts.

If you hear a booming baritone voice say, "Previously on ," and immediately be transported to one of the three weekly episodes, you too, are a Big Brother superfan. As one of CBS's big three reality series, Big Brother is the competition series that every reality superfan anticipated every summer. In fact, summer officially didn't begin until Big Brother welcomed their houseguests into the CBS studio lot. While the first season had a drastically different format than every season since, And, even better, with live feeds! The series allowed superfans to dive head-first into the action as they had 24/7 access to the hundreds of cameras and microphones installed into the house.

Through a series of competitions for power, luxury, and safety, Big Brother established how silly and campy competition series can be, compared to its sister series. Hosted by , since day one, her infamous, "Expect the unexpected," has become the season's quotable reality television catchphrase. The show has changed and evolved over the years, but the mechanics have firmly remained the same. Big Brother has been one of those reality series that established its own lingo. Some of which have seeped into other games. Nevertheless, if it's summer, it's Big Brother. The show did feature one winter-timed season, a pair of one-off spin-offs, and a celebrity edition. And still, it shows no signs of slowing down.

For the most part, reality shows of the aughts focused on the lives of real people. That is until the networks discovered the impulse of allowing cameras to follow the lives of celebrities. While most docufollow shows captured a glimpse into the "everyday life" of the rich and famous, one show . Say hello to . and were known as the aughts' biggest socialites who allowed cameras to capture them attempting to do everything from working on a farm to becoming employees at a fast food establishment.

The duo were the epitome of "bestie goals." And, thanks to The Simple Life, both women were launched into superstardom. Through its praise by its fans, The Simple Life did suffer the brunt of criticism about the genre in general. While it did try to maintain a tongue-in-cheek demeanor, some analyzed it as mocking classism. The show inspired a handful of international iterations, plus an unofficial spin-off competition, , hosted by Paris' mom, . Paris and Nicole did reunite in 2024 in . While it wasn't The Simple Life, it gave fans a moment to revel in a simpler time.

"SHARON!" If you can hear that, it means you certainly are familiar with . Unofficially the first family of reality television, The Osbournes was one of the genre's first forays into documenting the lives of celebrities. The series captured the domestic lives of , his wife, , and two of his children, and . By the time MTV launched the series, the only other reality properties the network had were all from the same family: , and the eventually-titled . With The Osbourne, it changed the trajectory not only for docufollow series, but for what else MTV could do.

Had it not been for The Osbournes, MTV would never have been able to have shows like , and . Though Ozzy was the famous face of the family, in the entertainment industry on a global scale. While many have thanked The Osbournes for their contributions to media, some might be cursing them as it was part of the ammunition that inspired . Nevertheless, when it comes to reality television families, no one quite did it like The Osbournes.

You wanna be on top? Competition series were huge in the early days of reality television. Prior to the genre's big boom, there had been many talent shows that focused on a variety of acts. But as networks vied for their shot at reality television glory, they began throwing anything and everything up against the wall by taking other talents, beyond singing, and giving them the competition treatment. The modeling industry is tough to begin with. Thanks to , it became even tougher.

Hosted and created by renowned supermodel , ANTM followed a group of aspiring models as they attempted to impress Banks and the illustrious panel of judges. Recruiting some of the industry's most infamous experts, like , and , America's Next Top Model became a bona fide hit. Cycle after cycle, fans tuned in for the exceptional talent, all while awaiting Tyra Banks to go viral. Say it with me now:

Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like this. FOX had their moment after their very first shot at reality television! Singing competitions were nothing new, but in America at the start of the reality television boom, there wasn't necessarily a high-stakes talent show on screen. So, FOX welcomed and his concept of to the states where they created . The series was simple. An aspiring singer auditioned for a trio of industry veterans as they hoped to earn a chance to go to Hollywood where they ultimately could sing for the admiration of America.

of its kind from this point forward. Why? Because American Idol successfully made superstars. Some say that a series can be made or broken by its first season. Suffice it to say, things would look quite different had not been the inaugural winner. While it would eventually be toned down over time, American Idol was known for not only acknowledging terrible auditions, but the fan base celebrating mediocrity. Remember the website Vote for the Worst? These were influencers before social media. On top of megastar contestants, American Idol was the gold standard of how to cast a judging panel. You had the mean one (), the nice one (), and the other one (). All jokes aside, the influence American Idol has had has continued decades later. Very few American singing shows put out the stars that American Idol was able to produce.

What better way to see the world than a race for a million dollars! As one of the most decorated reality programs of all time, The Amazing Race is the feel-good, family-friendly reality series that allowed its viewers the opportunity to see the world through the lens of a high-stakes race. Teams of two, comprised of family and friends, are forced to navigate the globe as they seek clues to reach each leg's checkpoint. With an assortment of obstacles in the way, both created by the game and their own volition, The Amazing Race has been a celebration of perseverance, determination, and the spirit of never giving up. Led by Phil Keoghan, The Amazing Race truly has been able to provide an adventure of a lifetime for everyone who's been able to participate.

Though the series did attempt one ill-fated family edition, The Amazing Race has stood strong by its format. Yes, new twists and turns were thrown in, but at its core was the cultural celebration through exploration. The Amazing Race also happened to be the series that debuted the concept of reality-television character crossover. Over the years, contestants from other CBS reality shows had their shot at The Amazing Race, highlighting that just because you've been on TV before doesn't mean you can win in the end. The Amazing Race somehow continues to be the underdog in the discussion of incredible reality TV programs. Perhaps it's because it doesn't always provide water-cooler viral moments. But that's what makes it special. The Amazing Race is all about the heart.

"The tribe has spoken." The final line Jeff Probst utters as a castaway is voted out of the island. A line that was workshopped, but ultimately defined the exit line that every host attempted to capture for their eventual series. It's just one of the many elements that helped make Survivor a pioneer of the genre. Survivor provided the concept of an alliance. Survivor proved that the obvious winner isn't the best winner. Survivor set the tone for every reality strategy series, all while being one of the most brilliant and fascinating social experiments to ever be broadcast.

There is literally so much to say about Survivor that it could warrant its own top 10 list. And even then, determining the 10 reasons why Survivor is the best of all time could spawn its own mini-lists. There is a reason why Survivor continues to dominate week after week, thanks to its devoted fan base. Inching closer to its milestone 50th season, Survivor has proven that even if the formula is the same, a slight tweak in the mechanics and a new cast each season illuminates the brilliance of the social strategy series. There's a reason why Survivor boasts "outwit, outplay, outlast" on its logo. Survivor hasn't outlasted its competition. It's allowed every series to come after to exist.

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